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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1706)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>N U M B E R S</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. VIII.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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This chapter is concerning the lamps or lights of the sanctuary.
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I. The burning lamps in the candlestick, which the priests were charged
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to tend,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+8:1-4">ver. 1-4</A>.
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II. The living lamps (if I may so call them), The
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Levites, who as ministers were burning and shining lights. The
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ordination of the priests we had an account of,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+8:1-36">Lev. viii</A>.
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Here we have an
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account of the ordination of the Levites, the inferior clergy.
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1. How they were purified,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+8:5-8">ver. 5-8</A>.
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2. How they were parted with by the people,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+8:9-10">
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ver. 9, 10</A>.
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3. How they were presented to God in lieu of the firstborn,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+8:11-18">ver. 11-18</A>.
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4. How they were consigned to Aaron and his sons, to be ministers to
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them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+8:19">ver. 19</A>.
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5. How all these orders were duly executed,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+8:20-22">ver. 20-22</A>.
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And, lastly, the age appointed for their ministration,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+8:23-26">ver. 23</A>,
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&c.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Nu8_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu8_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu8_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu8_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Lights of the Sanctuary.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1490.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 And the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> spake unto Moses, saying,
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2 Speak unto Aaron, and say unto him, When thou lightest the
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lamps, the seven lamps shall give light over against the
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candlestick.
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3 And Aaron did so; he lighted the lamps thereof over against
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the candlestick, as the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> commanded Moses.
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4 And this work of the candlestick <I>was of</I> beaten gold, unto
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the shaft thereof, unto the flowers thereof, <I>was</I> beaten work:
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according unto the pattern which the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> had showed Moses, so he
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made the candlestick.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Directions were given long before this for the making of the golden
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candlestick
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+25:31">Exod. xxv. 31</A>),
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and it was made according to the pattern shown to Moses in the mount,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+38:17">Exod. xxxviii. 17</A>.
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But now it was that the lamps were first ordered to be lighted, when
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other things began to be used. Observe,
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1. Who must light the lamps; Aaron himself, he <I>lighted the
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lamps,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+8:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
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As the people's representative to God, he thus did the office of a
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servant in God's house, lighting his Master's candle; as the
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representative of God to the people, he thus gave them the intimations
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of God's will and favour, thus expressed
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+18:28">Ps. xviii. 28</A>),
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<I>Thou wilt light my candle;</I> and thus Aaron himself was now lately
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directed to bless the people, <I>The Lord make his face to shine upon
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thee,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+6:25"><I>ch.</I> vi. 25</A>.
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The commandment is a <I>lamp,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+6:23">Prov. vi. 23</A>.
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The scripture is <I>a light shining in a dark place,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Pe+1:19">2 Pet. i. 19</A>.
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And a dark place indeed even the church would be without it, as the
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tabernacle (which had no window in it) without the lamps. Now the work
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of ministers is to light these lamps, by expounding and applying the
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word of God. The priest lighted the middle lamp from the fire of the
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altar, and the rest of the lamps he lighted one from another, which
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(says Mr. Ainsworth) signifies that the fountain of all light and
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knowledge is in Christ, who has the <I>seven spirits of God</I> figured
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by the <I>seven lamps of fire</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+4:5">Rev. iv. 5</A>),
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but that in the expounding of scripture one passage must borrow light
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from another. He also supposes that, <I>seven</I> being a number of
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perfection, by the seven branches of the candlestick is shown the full
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perfection of the scriptures, which are able to make us wise to
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salvation.
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2. To what end the lamps were lighted, that they might give light
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<I>over against the candlestick,</I> that is, to that part of the
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tabernacle where the table stood, with the show-bread upon it, over
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against the candlestick. They were not lighted like tapers in an urn,
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to burn to themselves, but to give light to the other side of the
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tabernacle, for therefore candles are lighted,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+5:15">Matt. v. 15</A>.
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Note, The lights of the world, the lights of the church, must shine as
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lights. Therefore we have light, that we may give light.</P>
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<A NAME="Nu8_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu8_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu8_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu8_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu8_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu8_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu8_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu8_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu8_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu8_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu8_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu8_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu8_17"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu8_18"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu8_19"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu8_20"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu8_21"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu8_22"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu8_23"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu8_24"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu8_25"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu8_26"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Consecration of the Levites.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1490.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>5 And the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> spake unto Moses, saying,
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6 Take the Levites from among the children of Israel, and
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cleanse them.
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7 And thus shalt thou do unto them, to cleanse them: Sprinkle
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water of purifying upon them, and let them shave all their flesh,
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and let them wash their clothes, and <I>so</I> make themselves clean.
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8 Then let them take a young bullock with his meat offering,
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<I>even</I> fine flour mingled with oil, and another young bullock
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shalt thou take for a sin offering.
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9 And thou shalt bring the Levites before the tabernacle of the
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congregation: and thou shalt gather the whole assembly of the
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children of Israel together:
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10 And thou shalt bring the Levites before the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>: and the
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children of Israel shall put their hands upon the Levites:
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11 And Aaron shall offer the Levites before the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> <I>for</I> an
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offering of the children of Israel, that they may execute the
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service of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
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12 And the Levites shall lay their hands upon the heads of the
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bullocks: and thou shalt offer the one <I>for</I> a sin offering, and
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the other <I>for</I> a burnt offering, unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, to make an
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atonement for the Levites.
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13 And thou shalt set the Levites before Aaron, and before his
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sons, and offer them <I>for</I> an offering unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
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14 Thus shalt thou separate the Levites from among the children
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of Israel: and the Levites shall be mine.
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15 And after that shall the Levites go in to do the service of
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the tabernacle of the congregation: and thou shalt cleanse them,
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and offer them <I>for</I> an offering.
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16 For they <I>are</I> wholly given unto me from among the children
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of Israel; instead of such as open every womb, <I>even instead of</I>
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the firstborn of all the children of Israel, have I taken them
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unto me.
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17 For all the firstborn of the children of Israel <I>are</I> mine,
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<I>both</I> man and beast: on the day that I smote every firstborn in
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the land of Egypt I sanctified them for myself.
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18 And I have taken the Levites for all the firstborn of the
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children of Israel.
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19 And I have given the Levites <I>as</I> a gift to Aaron and to his
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sons from among the children of Israel, to do the service of the
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children of Israel in the tabernacle of the congregation, and to
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make an atonement for the children of Israel: that there be no
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plague among the children of Israel, when the children of Israel
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come nigh unto the sanctuary.
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20 And Moses, and Aaron, and all the congregation of the
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children of Israel, did to the Levites according unto all that
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the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so did the
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children of Israel unto them.
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21 And the Levites were purified, and they washed their
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clothes; and Aaron offered them <I>as</I> an offering before the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>;
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and Aaron made an atonement for them to cleanse them.
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22 And after that went the Levites in to do their service in
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the tabernacle of the congregation before Aaron, and before his
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sons: as the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> had commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so
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did they unto them.
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23 And the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> spake unto Moses, saying,
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24 This <I>is it</I> that <I>belongeth</I> unto the Levites: from twenty
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and five years old and upward they shall go in to wait upon the
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service of the tabernacle of the congregation:
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25 And from the age of fifty years they shall cease waiting
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upon the service <I>thereof,</I> and shall serve no more:
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26 But shall minister with their brethren in the tabernacle of
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the congregation, to keep the charge, and shall do no service.
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Thus shalt thou do unto the Levites touching their charge.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We read before of the separating of the Levites from among the children
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of Israel when they were numbered, and the numbering of them by
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themselves
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+3:6,15"><I>ch.</I> iii. 6, 15</A>),
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that they might be employed in the service of the tabernacle. Now here
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we have directions given for their solemn ordination
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+8:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>),
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and the performance of it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+8:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>.
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All Israel must know that they took not this honour to themselves, but
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were called of God to it; nor was it enough that they were
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distinguished from their neighbours, but they must be solemnly devoted
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to God. Note, All that are employed for God must be dedicated to him,
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according as the degree of employment is. Christian musts be baptized,
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ministers must be ordained; we must first give ourselves unto the Lord,
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and then our services. Observe in what method this was done:</P>
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<P>
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I. The Levites must be cleansed, and were so. The rites and ceremonies
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of their cleansing were to be performed,
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1. By themselves. They must <I>wash their clothes,</I> and not only
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bathe, but <I>shave all their flesh,</I> as the leper was to do when he
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was cleansed,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+14:8">Lev. xiv. 8</A>.
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They must <I>cause a razor to pass over all their flesh,</I> to clear
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themselves from that defilement which would not wash off. Jacob, whom
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God loved, was a smooth man; it was Esau that was hairy. The great
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pains they were to take with themselves to make themselves clean
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teaches all Christians, and ministers particularly, by repentance and
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mortification, to <I>cleanse themselves from all filthiness of flesh
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and spirit,</I> that they may <I>perfect holiness.</I> Those must be
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clean that bear the vessels of the Lord.
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2. By Moses. He must <I>sprinkle the water of purifying upon them,</I>
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which was prepared by divine direction. This signified the application
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of the blood of Christ to our souls by faith, to purify us from an evil
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conscience, that we may be fit to serve the living God. It is our duty
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to cleanse ourselves, and God's promise that he will cleanse us.</P>
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<P>
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II. The Levites, being thus prepared, must be brought before the Lord
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in a solemn assembly of all Israel, and the <I>children of Israel</I>
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must <I>put their hands upon them</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+8:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>),
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so transferring their interest in them and in their service (to which,
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as a part, the whole body of the people was entitled) to God and to his
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sanctuary. They presented them to God <I>as living sacrifices, holy and
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acceptable,</I> to perform a <I>reasonable service;</I> and therefore,
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as the offerers in all other cases did, <I>they laid their hands upon
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them,</I> desiring that their service might be accepted in lieu of the
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attendance of the whole congregation, particularly the first-born,
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which they acknowledge God might have insisted on. This will not serve
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to prove a power in the people to ordain ministers; for this imposition
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of hands by the children of Israel upon the Levites did not make them
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ministers of the sanctuary, but only signified the people's parting
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with that tribe out of their militia, and civil incorporations, in
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order to their being made ministers by Aaron, who was to offer them
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before the Lord. All the congregation of the children of Israel could
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not lay hands on them, but it is probable that the rulers and elders
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did it as the representative body of the people. Some think that the
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first-born did it because in their stead the Levites were consecrated
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to God. Whatever God calls for from us to serve his own glory by, we
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must cheerfully resign it, lay our hands upon it, not to detain it but
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to surrender it, and let it go to him that is entitled to it.</P>
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<P>
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III. Sacrifices were to be offered for them, a sin-offering first
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+8:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>),
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and then a burnt-offering, to make an <I>atonement for the Levites,</I>
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who, as the parties concerned, were to lay their hands upon the head of
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the sacrifices. See here,
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1. That we are all utterly unworthy and unfit to be admitted into and
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employed in the service of God, till atonement be made for sin, and
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thereby our peace made with God. That interposing cloud must be
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scattered before there can be any comfortable communion settled between
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God and our souls.
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2. That it is by sacrifice, by Christ the great sacrifice, that we are
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reconciled to God, and made fit to be offered to him. It is by him that
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Christians are sanctified to the work of their Christianity, and
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ministers to the work of their ministry. The learned bishop Patrick's
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notion of the sacrifice offered by the Levites is that the Levites were
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themselves considered as an expiatory sacrifice, for they were given to
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<I>make atonement for the children of Israel,</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+8:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>),
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and yet not being devoted to death, any more than the first-born were,
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these two sacrifices were substituted in their stead, upon which
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therefore they were to lay their hands, that the sin which the children
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of Israel laid upon them
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+8:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>)
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might be transferred to these beasts.</P>
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<P>
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IV. The Levites themselves were <I>offered before the Lord</I> for an
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<I>offering of the children of Israel,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+8:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>.
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Aaron gave them up to God, as being first given up by themselves, and
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by the children of Israel. The original word signifies a
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<I>wave-offering,</I> not that they were actually waved, but they were
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presented to God as the God of heaven, and the Lord of the whole earth,
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as the wave-offerings were. And in calling them wave-offerings it was
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intimated to them that they must continually lift up themselves towards
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God in his service, lift up their eyes, lift up their hearts, and must
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move to and fro with readiness in the business of their profession.
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They were not ordained to be idle, but to be active and stirring.</P>
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<P>
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V. God here declares his acceptance of them: <I>The Levites shall be
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mine,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+8:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>.
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God took them instead of the first-born
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+8:16-18"><I>v.</I> 16-18</A>),
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of which before,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+3:4"><I>ch.</I> iii. 41</A>.
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Note, What is in sincerity offered to God shall be graciously owned and
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accepted by him. And his ministers who have obtained mercy of him to be
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faithful have particular marks of favour and honour put upon them:
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<I>they shall be mine,</I> and then
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+8:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>)
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they shall <I>go in to do the service of the tabernacle.</I> God takes
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them for his own, that they may serve him. All that expect to share in
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|
the privileges of the tabernacle must resolve to do the service of the
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|
tabernacle. As, on the one hand, none of God's creatures are his
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|
necessary servants (he needs not the service of any of them), so, on
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the other hand, none are taken merely as honorary servants, to do
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nothing. All whom God owns he employs; angels themselves have their
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services.</P>
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<P>
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VI. They are then given as a gift to Aaron and his sons
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+8:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>),
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yet so as that the benefit accrued to the children of Israel.
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1. The Levites must act under the priests as attendants on them, and
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assistants to them, in the service of the sanctuary. Aaron offers them
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to God
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+8:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>),
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and then God gives them back to Aaron,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+8:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>.
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Note, Whatever we give up to God, he will give back to us unspeakably
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|
to our advantage. Our hearts, our children, our estates, are never
|
|
more ours, more truly, more comfortably ours, than when we have offered
|
|
them up to God.
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2. They must act for the people. They were taken to <I>do the service
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|
of the children of Israel,</I> that is, not only to do the service
|
|
which they should do, but to serve their interests, and do that which
|
|
would really redound to the honour, safety, and prosperity of the whole
|
|
nation. Note, Those that faithfully perform the service of God do one
|
|
of the best services that can be done to the public; God's ministers,
|
|
while they keep within the sphere of their office and conscientiously
|
|
discharge the duty of it, must be looked upon as some of the most
|
|
useful servants of their country. The children of Israel can as ill
|
|
spare the tribe of Levi as any of their tribes. But what is the
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|
service they do the children of Israel? It follows, it is to <I>make an
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|
atonement for them, that there be no plague among them.</I> It was the
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|
priests' work to make atonement by sacrifice, but the Levites made
|
|
atonement by attendance, and preserved the peace with heaven which was
|
|
made by sacrifice. If the service of the priests in the tabernacle had
|
|
been left to all the first-born of Israel promiscuously, it would have
|
|
been either neglected or done unskillfully and irreverently, being done
|
|
by those that were not so closely tied to it, nor so diligently trained
|
|
to it, nor so constantly used to it, as the Levites were; and this
|
|
would bring <I>a plague among the children of Israel</I>--meaning,
|
|
perhaps, the death of the first-born themselves, which was the last and
|
|
greatest of the plagues of Egypt. To prevent this, and to preserve the
|
|
atonement, the Levites were appointed to do this service, who should be
|
|
bred up to it under their parents from their infancy, and therefore
|
|
would be well versed in it; and so the children of Israel, that is, the
|
|
first-born, should not need to come nigh to the sanctuary; or, when any
|
|
Israelites had occasion, the Levites would be ready to instruct them,
|
|
and introduce them, and so prevent any fatal miscarriage or mistake.
|
|
Note, It is a very great kindness to the church that ministers are
|
|
appointed to go before the people in the things of God, as guides,
|
|
overseers, and rulers, in religious worship, and to make that their
|
|
business. When Christ ascended on high, he <I>gave these gifts,</I>
|
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+4:8,11,12">Eph. iv. 8, 11, 12</A>.</P>
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|
<P>
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VII. The time of their ministration is fixed.
|
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|
1. They were to enter upon the service at twenty-five years old,
|
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+8:24"><I>v.</I> 24</A>.
|
|
|
|
They were not charged with the carrying of the tabernacle and the
|
|
utensils of it till they were thirty years old,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+4:3"><I>ch.</I> iv. 3</A>.
|
|
|
|
But they were entered to be otherwise serviceable at twenty-five years
|
|
old, a very good age for ministers to begin their public work at. The
|
|
work then required that strength of body and the work now requires that
|
|
maturity of judgment and steadiness of behaviour which men rarely
|
|
arrive at till about that age; and novices are in danger of being
|
|
lifted up with pride.
|
|
|
|
2. They were to have a writ of ease at fifty years old; then they were
|
|
to return from the warfare, as the phrase is
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+8:25"><I>v.</I> 25</A>),
|
|
|
|
not cashiered with disgrace, but preferred rather to the rest which
|
|
their age required, to be loaded with the honours of their office, as
|
|
hitherto they had been with the burdens of it. They shall <I>minister
|
|
with their brethren in the tabernacle,</I> to direct the junior
|
|
Levites, and set them in; and they shall <I>keep the charge,</I> as
|
|
guards upon the avenues of the tabernacle, to see that no stranger
|
|
intruded, nor any person in his uncleanness, but they shall not be put
|
|
upon any service which may be a fatigue to them. If God's grace provide
|
|
that men shall have ability according to their work, man's prudence
|
|
should take care that men have work only according to their ability.
|
|
The aged are most fit for trusts, and to keep the charge; the younger
|
|
are most fit for work, and to do the service. Those that have <I>used
|
|
the office of a servant well purchase to themselves a good degree,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ti+3:13">1 Tim. iii. 13</A>.
|
|
|
|
Yet indeed gifts are not tied to ages
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+32:9">Job xxxii. 9</A>),
|
|
|
|
but <I>all these worketh that one and the self-same Spirit.</I> Thus
|
|
was the affair of the Levites settled.</P>
|
|
|
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